being raw

Spent time with a pal yesterday. Though we don't catch up that often, but everytime we do, its a refreshing thing.

He has an uncanny, raw passion for life. He can joke with you, but poke you at the same time.

He can be funny, but really damn serious at the same time.

He takes no prisoners. I guess why he isn't liked by some because he is being so real instead of being fake and pretentious.

I sought his advise yesterday as a senior but at the same time our minds are at the same frequency.

Perhaps it wasn't the advice that I was looking for, but at least I started to become more refreshed an inspired to do something bold.

We started talking about work. Then he challenged me with something uncanny.

You must put on my best attitude and smile at work. Give my all - 200%

What? You must be joking

Yes, just do that.

Then, just as they thought that that you are coping so well and being so dedicated, drop the ball, and leave.

Huh?

Do that with an open mind. But do not expect anything. 

You came to work at this place, expecting to learn everything from A - Z. But you didn't. Perhaps you didn't learn A, B, C, but have learnt everything else from D to Z, minus a few letters. See the bigger picture. That you have grown this past year.

I was chatting with a few friends about you too.

Really?

Yeah, and I've told them how much you've grown over the past year. Just by looking at what you've written on your blog.

After you returned to Malaysia, perhaps you were a bit shaky and didn't know what to do. But now you do, and you have a vision, and a purpose.

Pursue that purpose the Brandon Eu Way. No one can do it for you, except yourself.

I thought you wouldn't last long at your workplace, with the crap pay, and indifferent colleagues. But you did.

You have proved yourself just by that and not like a piece of cloth flying in the air wherever the wind blows.

I guess a bit of encouragement can go a long way to make your day. I'm still reeling myself in from what I've been experiencing the past few days.

Thanks pal.

Hello my old friend. Welcome back.

All of us make mistakes in life. We will make them anyway whether we like it or not, because we're all just human.

Some mistakes are forgivable, some aren't. But they all have consequences. And when you do a crime against someone whom you really care about, the consequences are disastrous.

Its like the shepard boy who cried wolf. When he tricked his villagers the third time to come to his aid, the wolves really came and wiped out all of his sheep.

Of course, we can always try to justify ourselves. We can talk and rant until the cows come home, but it won't work. The mutual trust ain't there anymore. The person who was the closest to you, is suddenly the most distant.

At times, you just don't realise how precious something is to you, until it is really, really, gone.

You miss the moments and things you do together. Suddenly there is no more laughter, and you start thinking why you have more time in your hands.

My mom always told me, hold something with an open hand. If you clench your fists too tightly, you'll only hurt yourself.

Some wounds are just a nick on the surface. But some wounds will last a lifetime and have roots that are connected to the core of our hearts.

The wounds will eventually become vague and blurrier, because our brain remembers what we want to remember and stores away what we want to hide from our past.

Some researchers say people who block out unpleasant memories or issues may enjoy short-term gains but emotionally detaching themselves causes long-term consequences. They try to protect themselves by covering up things. But as always, this is life. We can control something, but not everything.

My name is Brandon Eu. And today, I would like to admit that I am proudly and regretfully, an imperfect human being.

Ouch~

And thereafter a long, lingering,       S       i       l       e       n       c       e

Nothing moves. Nothing breathes. No laughter. Gloom. Blurriness. Darkness.

Hello my old friend. Welcome back.

Persatuan Fotografi Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur 61st anniversary dinner

On June 1st, I joined my colleagues for a dinner hosted by the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Photographic Association at Pavilion, right at the heart of Bukit Bintang.

Your sincerely holding a pleasant glass of chilled beer.

My jovial 'sifus' (Teachers)

The VIP for the event was the Deputy Finance Minister, Datuk Donald Lim.

 I was just a casual photographer at the dinner, so I didn't get too many shots this time. I was waiting for Datuk Lim to raise his head, but he was clearly just reading from a rehearsed speech written by his secretary (as most government ministers do). Oh well.. keep moving :s

 Popping the champagne.

Yaaam Seeeng! (its the chinese equivalent of 'cheers'). Usually repeated thrice, and you shout as loud as you can to 'show' your support.

 While I was busy taking the photos, my colleagues left a small 'decoration' on my plate. How flattering ;)

 Messed up the white balance a little here..

 Dancing along with a hokkien performer on stage is fun :)

 The old chap from Unitex who drops by our shop every evening.

 The finale of the show girls that evening.

That's all folks.. see you next year~